Clothespin-receptacle suspension



Nov. 21, 1950 F. s. KRALOVIC 2,531,058

CLOTHESPIN RECEPTACLE SUSPENSION Filed May 5, 1946 INVENTOR. fiA/wr 6'. A7014 awe Patented Nov. 21, 1 950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention pertains to a olothes-pin-re ceptacle suspension for the purpose of the legally required exemplification of the operative principles, however, some of the structural features are manifestly applicable in different arts for performing equivalent functions.

The objects of my origination, besides simplicity, durability, economy of manufacture and collapsed compactness, have been to provide a convenient domestic or household assembly wherein a clothes-pin bag has its upper margin maintained spread or open by a stiffening loop carrying a rigid (selectively hinged) upward extension to the upper extremity of which is at-- tached a flexible cord of indeterminate length and with its other end attached to a spool provided with a hook intended to hang from a stretched clothes-line whereby the tendency of the suspension cord to establish a straight line, with the rigid extension to which its lower end is secured, serves to counteract'the tendency of the upper end of the weighted bag to tilt and whereby the spool may be utilized to vary the length of unwound cord or the distance between the top of the rigid extension and lower end of spool and hook structure to suit the preference of the user and also whereby all'the clothes-line-suspended parts may he slid along the clothes-line preparatory to clamping wash to or unclamping articles from it.

Adverting to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a suspension embodying all the features of my invention and shown with the parts thereof in collapsed positions preparatory to packaging or shipment.

Figure 2 is a perspective view with certain parts in extended positions consequent to being suspended, for instance from a stretched clothes-line of which a short section appears to View.

Figure 3 is a plan view of an enlarged modification of one detail shown in the other views to indicate its separate utility as a spool to be held by the hand or hung up. Figure 4 is a view of a modified form of bag-connection comprising a composite, foldable ring and a maintaining catch. Figure 5 is a broken top view of Figure 4 showing its folded position.

A receptacle illustrated in the form of a collapsible bag I, to be considered as weighted by its retention of a number of clothes-pins (not appearing to view), has its upper end given shape by a stifiening loop 2 around which the upper margin 3 of the bag I is secured, for. example by being folded therearound and sewn. As illus trated, the loop 2 may be of wire and integrally carry at one point a short upward extension 4 to the upper extremity of which is pivotally or hingedly connected a rigid, somewhat longer riser 6. The latter has its point of pivotal connection intermediately of its ends to provide a depending stop-finger 1 adapted, when the extension 4 and riser 6 are in substantial alinement, to impinge against the outer side or" the extension 4 whereby advantageously to limit the swinging movement of the riser 6 from the position in which it appears in Figure l to the position in which it appears in Figure 2. The advantage is consequent to the desirability of restricting the tilt of the loop 2 when the suspended bag is weighted.

The upper end of the riser 6 is fashioned as an eyelet 8 for suspension by a cord 9, exemplifiedly tied to the eyelet at It]. The cord 9 is of indeterminate length and the utilized longitudinal measure thereof is to be subject to adjustment in a manner next to be described. The other end of the cord 9 is tied to an eyelet l l at one (the lower) end of a peculiarly shaped, zig-zag wire structure comprising, next above the eyelet H, a return bend or doubled-back section 52 to form in conjunction with its adjoining section Is an acute angle bight. At the other (upper) end of the section It the latter forms a similar though relatively inverted bight It with one end of a hook I 5 for enveloping a strung clothes-line Hi.

It is to be observed that a few turns of the cord 9 have been taken around the pair of remotely located bights, the triad of sections l2, l3 and M thereby demonstrating the function of a spool, whereby the length of the entire assembly when suspended may be readily adjusted to suit the height and therefore the convenience of the user. Meanwhile, during the suspended position, as shown in Figure 2, the cord 9 will tend to pull the riser 6 toward a vertical position thereby advantageously counteracting an excessive tilt of the weighted bag and maintaining a distended arrangement of its sides.

The modification of Figure 3 is intended to show the feasibility of an equivalent application of the uppermost unit of the assembly shown in Figure 2 as a spool of larger dimensions upon which a wash or clothes-line, when not in use, may be wound. The spool then comprises a middle section ll connecting two relatively inverted bights l8 and IS, a handle 2i] and a hook 2!, the two latter at opposite ends respectively. Similarly, irrespective of its size, the structure shown in Figure )3 may be inexpensive enough to constitute an attractive premium gift for use by boys in winding their kite strings.

The modification of Figures 4 and 5 provides a mechanical bag closure together with a retaining catch. The stiifening ring for the upper end of the bag comprises a pair of semi-circular loops 22 and 23 which are pivoted together at 24. The other ends of the loops are L-shaped and the corners of the angles thereof are adjacently pivoted at 25 randi2fi3to' the riser 21Twhich'has'a modified'lower end. The near end of the latter is formed with a stop lug 28, adapted, when the two loops are swung to their ring-forming posi-- tions (as appears in Figure 4), to beabuttedand:

confined by the closely appositioned, notched edges of the L-forming terminal sections'of th'e loops 22 and 23. The riser 2'!- hasits free end provided with an eyelet 29. The handled clamping catch 30 is of U-shaped form and. has. its interjacent section leaf-'spring-pivoted across theriser at 3l-whereby to .be:a,dapted to.-be-swung;, to a position (as shown in, Figure-5) in-whichl it; wedgedly encloses the 'two loop halves along with their enclosing bag material when the two semiacircular loops and uppermarginal halves of the bagfabric become folded against each other.

The-variation showninFigures 4' and 5-though. involving a slight added cost of. manufacture, constitute an improvement consequent to afolded arrangement: of even smaller compass: (lesser.- depth) during shipping and further because of the. security against: loss of clothespins during,

non-use of the entire:assembly- I claim:

1. In combination, a rigid riser and; a ring comprising complemental halvespivotedl at) diametrically-1 opposite, points to each other and: to: an intermediate portioniof said riser respectively,,

said ring halves being L-shaped adjacently to said riser and adapted, when in ring-completing position, to abut the lower end of said riser and a catch carried by said riser for embracing the ring halves when folded.

2. In a clothes-pin holder, the combination of an arm, a pair of semi-circular members together adapted to form a ring and with one pair of ends pivotally connected to each other and with-the'other pair of theirvends ,pivotedto said arm, adepending formation onsaid'arm and also on each of said members, said arm formation having its opposite sides adapted to be abuttedwby the depending formations on said members when the latter reach their ring-forming position anda receptacle having its upper margin carried by said members.

FRANK S. KRALOVIC.

REFERENCES CITED l he following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS" 

